Much Ado about Nothing

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Introduction

Near the end of the play Antonio says he is glad "all things sort so well". To what extent do you consider the play to have a happy ending? Much Ado about Nothing is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare. Although nobody knows exactly when Shakespeare wrote the play, it is thought that the play was written in 1596 to 1599. The main characters in the play are Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio and of course Don John the Bastard. Much Ado about Nothing is still one of Shakespeare's best-known plays after 400 years. The title 'Much Ado about Nothing' has a very deep meaning. 'Much Ado' means a lot of fuss, therefore a lot of fuss about nothing. Also however 'nothing' is a pun on the word 'noting' as the whole play is based on what people note when they listen in on other's conversations. Also the word 'noting' is another word meaning sexual connotation this adds to the comedy in the play. The play is all about relationships and couples, and you meet two very different couples. One couple fall in love almost at first sight and appear perfectly suited to each other. ...read more.

Middle

The wedding between Hero and Claudio seems a bit false and does not put right what had come before it. The audience would still remember the fact that Claudio had dumped her at the altar and why would Hero want to marry him after what he had done to her; it might make the audience feel it was unreal and fake as this wouldn't happen. They may have remembered Beatrice saying that Claudio was 'a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman'. This means that Claudio is a villain and has destroyed Hero's name as a maid; he has disgraced her. Hero was also described as a 'rotten orange' and 'approved wanton' meaning that she was hated by Claudio and others. Claudio is talking about her as if she is beautiful on the outside but decayed inside - she has turned bad but no-one has seen this yet. In act 4 scene 1, Beatrice wants Claudio dead but by the end everything is fine. It seems the story is contradicting itself. Another element of Elizabethan comedy is that at least one character doesn't change throughout the play. Don Pedro and Don John are pure examples of this comic trait. ...read more.

Conclusion

At the beginning of Act 5 Scene 4 the speech is mostly in blank verse set out as if the play is being told as a poem. Most of Act 5 scene 4, is set out as blank verse. Initially the rest of the characters usually speak in Blank verse. This is to show the emotion of the scene. You will rarely find any of the characters speaking prose, as prose is used mostly for Beatrice and Benedick. The audience can tell the emotions of the characters by the way they speak, as if you find that any of the other characters; other than Beatrice and Benedick are speaking in blank verse; It means they are feeling very emotional. Such as when Claudio has to have his punishment by marrying Antonio's daughter. This is a good example of when Antonio and Claudio talk in blank verse. Finally, at the end of the play, i think that 'all things sort so well' is not a true statement because Don Pedro is left out and sad and the marriage between Hero and Claudio is very false under the circumstances but the marriage of Beatrice and Benedict is a happy ending and is honest to a traditional comedy. By Hollie Spiers ...read more.

Related GCSE Much Ado About Nothing essays

the two older men about what would be only too delightful for them to believe is in sharp contrast to the readiness with which they believe Hero's disgrace. The first introduction to the pattern of overhearing is more important than it might at first seem.

ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none." This is an extract from a conversation with Beatrice, the woman he ends up marrying.

There is potential for deep resentment and tension between the two, which in itself creates a dark atmosphere. Although Shakespeare manages to resolve all these tensions, and the duel between Benedick and Claudio never occurs, the relationship between Benedick and Claudio is never how it was before.

Beatrice: Do not you love me? Benedick: Why no; no more than reason. Beatrice: Why then my cousin, Margaret and Ursula are much deceived, for they did swear you did. From Benedick's and Beatrice's conversation it is clear to see that they are confused by overhearing that the other one

This speech is showing Benedick's reaction exaggerated so that he can get his point across. He wants to avoid Beatrice's tongue, so he will undertake a journey to the most farthest and dangerous kingdoms. Our first impression of Beatrice is the ever-witty lady, who is modern and independent who refuses to get involved with a man.

As shown in Act 1 scene 1 he says 'that a woman conceived me, I thank her: that she brought me up' meaning he thanks the woman who gave birth to him who is his mother. Benedick is portrayed as having respect towards women in general unlike the men of that time.

kind of thing Shakespeare had designed especially for them as they would be the only viewers who would be well-educated enough to understand the humour used. For example when, Benedick says to Beatrice during the masked dance, "My visor is Philemon's roof, but within the house is Jove."

Short Summary Leonato, the governor of Messina, has just received a letter informing him that Don Pedro and his army will be coming to Messina. The messenger further informs him that a young man named Claudio earned significant recognition during the latest battles.